How recycled rubber opens the door to safe, accessible all-season play
by Scott Gerber, The Better Play Initiative
Recycled rubber is used in everything from community parks, playgrounds and playing fields to infrastructure and flooring. It is cost-effective, diverts millions of tires a year from ending up in landfills, and supports thousands of jobs nationwide. In this interview, Rubber World spoke with Scott Gerber, program director of The Better Play Initiative, about recycled rubber, its use in areas such as community parks and playing fields, and the science behind its safety.
Given that many people do not know about the recycled rubber process, tell us what exactly is recycled rubber?
Recycled rubber is a sustainable material processed from end-of-life tires that are transformed into new materials. During recycling, the tires are cleaned, shredded and processed, forming “crumb rubber.” The non-rubber portions of the tire, like the steel belts that give a tire its shape and structure, are also recycled.